Kevin Durant to receive virtual tour of Brooklyn from D’Angelo Russell, so let the rumors swirl

Kevin Durant will receive a tour of Brooklyn from the Nets' D'Angelo Russell as his free agency decision looms. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)

As Kevin Durant nears free agency, his decision is as unclear as it was at the beginning of the season.

So, any rumors and potential connections to other teams will raise eyebrows, such as the fact that Durant will receive a virtual tour of Brooklyn from D’Angelo Russell via his new video series, “Fly By,” along with San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“[Russell’s] played at an All-Star level,” LeVert said. “Everybody wants to play with a great point guard, a great floor general, and he’s put himself in that conversation for sure. That lessens the load for a guy like Kevin Durant or another superstar who wants to come play with us. They don’t want to be the only one on the team, so that’s very attractive that D’Angelo has elevated himself to that level to play with.”

It’s a bit strange for LeVert to tout Brooklyn as a destination in which Durant could play with other superstars, considering that KD is currently at the Golden State Warriors, a team that boasts a luxury of star talent.

Unless Durant is seeking a change of scenery, playing for a team like the Nets or the New York Knicks will mean surrounding himself with a considerable drop-off in talent from his current situation.

Can’t stop the rumors

And so, rumors will continue to swirl until Durant affirms he wants to stay. A conversation caught on camera between Durant and Kyrie Irving over All-Star Weekend blew up on social media, with lip readers wondering if they would both sign with the Knicks — who have two max slots this offseason.

It is unlikely Kyrie and KD decided to team up at that very moment, just like it is unlikely that Russell giving Durant a virtual tour of Brooklyn will convince him to play for the Nets.

But such is the reality of today’s NBA free agency craze, and our insatiable appetite to connect any hint with a potential decision. Durant has kept saying he just wants to play basketball, but as the summer nears, the noise will be increasingly hard to block out.